diskusbooks Chapter 224 Injured
Chapter 224 Injured
Luo An met Nian Yao's gaze: "I..."
Nianyao interrupted him: "Don't speak."
Luo An sighed softly: "You..."
Nianyao cut him off again: "I don't want to hear it."
Luo An was interrupted twice in a row, and without saying anything more, he picked up the tray and left. His expression remained unchanged, but Nian Yao could clearly sense that he was in a bad mood.
Luo An opened the back door of the courtyard, piled up the unfinished food, lit incense sticks, and stuck them into the buns. Wisps of smoke rose, blurring Luo An's vision.
Very few people spoke loudly to him, and very few opposed him, or rather, none at all. Even emperors and empresses, or An Liangchen and Nanhua, would deliberately avoid the topic if they knew he was in a bad mood.
Call it willfulness or arrogance, that's just how Luo An has always been. Everyone's used to it, and he doesn't see anything wrong with it, or anything bad about it: he doesn't need to please anyone! Nor does he need anyone to please him!
Even if being together doesn't bring joy to both parties, one should remain calm and peaceful. If, as they are now, communication is impossible and neither is happy, then it's better to separate as soon as possible.
He continued searching for An Jingchen in the northern desert, while Nianyao returned to Chongming Island to take care of Duan Mingzhu. Everyone fulfilled their responsibilities and lived well.
Fortunately, they didn't have children, and their relationship didn't seem to be so deep that they couldn't sever ties.
The thought flashed through his mind like a sharp weapon slicing through his heart. Luo An clutched his chest, realizing with horror how real and terrifying his idea was.
But it seems there's no better solution. He had long been prepared to live a solitary life; marriage was an unexpected turn of events.
It was just an accident. Who can expect an accident to turn into a lasting relationship? Who can expect an acquaintance to lead to a lifelong commitment?
That sliver of marital affection seemed even more pathetic and laughable in the face of such a trivial dispute. Nianyao was so angry with Xue Yunting because of his child. What if Dongyang and Nanyue were to go to war one day?
The lessons of his father and mother's past were right there on the mountain behind the Heaven on Earth. Luo An told himself: I will not and cannot follow in my father's footsteps! That cowardly and unfortunate life will not be repeated in my life.
Luo An didn't return until the incense had almost burned out. As he pushed open the door, he was still thinking of explaining things to Nian Yao and letting her make her own choice.
But the room was empty!
Luo An stood frozen at the doorway, motionless for a long time: Nian Yao is gone?!
It turns out that the two of them were so in sync and thought the same way.
The door had been open for so long, but there was still no movement inside. Da Shu was worried, so he quietly peeked out the back window and saw Luo An standing there for a long time before quietly pulling his head back in.
Luo An turned and went down the steps, taking a few steps forward, but suddenly didn't know where to go or what to do.
When Nianyao wasn't around, he was carefree and at ease; when Nianyao came, he was full of anticipation; when Nianyao left, he was lost and bewildered... Had Nianyao's influence on him become so profound?
Nianyao passed through the eastern city and saw the girls there dressed in fine clothes. Looking at her own patched clothes, she bought a set of elegant light-colored clothes with gold thread and subtle patterns, changed into them, and casually bought a folding fan. Seeing the Red Apricot Pavilion ahead, she went in without a second thought.
The madam, who greeted and saw off guests, immediately judged her to be a spoiled rich kid and quickly greeted her: "Young master, our Red Apricot Pavilion is the largest in the eastern part of the city. Our girls are not only good at singing and dancing, but their service skills are also top-notch. We guarantee you will be satisfied..."
Nianyao lay back on the rocking chair in the private room and tossed a gold ingot to the madam: "Bring ten jugs of wine and ten girls with nice voices. This young master doesn't need anyone to serve him today; he just wants to listen to some songs to relax."
The madam, holding the gold ingot, smiled broadly and quickly beckoned to about a dozen girls.
Nianyao took a big gulp from the wine pot: "You sang and danced well today, and I will reward you handsomely."
The girls were all dressed in sheer skirts, their singing was melodious, and their dancing was graceful and pleasing to the eye.
As Nianyao drank, she remarked that the girls in the brothel were indeed skilled in singing and dancing; no wonder Nanfei often went to the brothel to listen to music.
The madam fawned, "Young master, our young lady is not only a great dancer, but also an expert at shoulder massages, wouldn't you like to..."
Nianyao was waving her hand to signal her to leave when she heard a gruff voice from outside: "Where is the young lady?"
Before the madam could even leave, the door to the private room was flung open.
Several soldiers, reeking of alcohol, rushed over and grabbed the girl: "Are all the pretty girls hiding here? Come on, come on, have some fun with me, and I'll reward you."
Nianyao frowned slightly and said in a slightly stern voice, "Let them go."
After a moment of stunned silence, one of the soldiers rushed up to Nian Yao, pointed at her, and said, "You..."
Nianyao pulled his finger and snapped it with force; with a crisp crack, the finger broke.
The man screamed in agony, clutching his arm and spinning around in pain. The remaining soldiers, now sober, immediately surrounded him.
Nianyao was unhappy and, without thinking much, smashed the wine jug on the soldier's head, causing immediate chaos.
Nian Yao stood coldly among the group, waving her folding fan: "If you know what's good for you, get out of here right now, or I'll break my vow and kill someone today."
Without a second thought, several soldiers grabbed nearby chairs and hurled them at her. Nianyao dodged, using her fan as a sword to strike east and west.
Nianyao had never killed anyone before. Although she wanted to vent her anger, she ultimately didn't kill them. After all, she had no real hatred for these people. The soldiers outnumbered her, and although Nianyao fought fiercely, it was impossible to see who won or lost.
Upon hearing the screams and shouts, Mando immediately pushed the girl off the bed, grabbed his sword, and rushed over to join the battle.
Nianyao realized something was wrong when she saw Manduo: What are they doing here? No wonder the soldiers looked familiar.
Qin Jiu said that the principle of fighting is to fight if you can, and run away if you can't win. As long as you're alive, you can always make a comeback.
Nianyao wasn't afraid of losing face, but many of her skills seemed to surpass Nianyao's. The soldiers all gathered around and formed a circle around her, making it impossible for Nianyao to escape.
Nianyao's folding fan was adequate against ordinary soldiers, but it was clearly insufficient against Manduo's broadswords. If she were to die here today, she would be dying far from home, unknown to anyone, and her death would be filled with regret.
Nianyao couldn't concentrate, but Manduo wielded his broadsword with ferocious power. Manduo knocked Nianyao's folding fan away and slashed her sleeve. Nianyao felt a sharp pain in her arm, and blood gushed out.
Manduo held a large sword horizontally in front of Nianyao's chest, forcing her to the window: "Miss Du Xiaoxiao?"
Nianyao covered her arm and readily admitted, "That's right. My brother and I made a fortune and have now moved to the eastern part of the city. I came here to listen to some folk songs when I had nothing to do, and I never expected to run into you here, sir. Sir, it's fate that we met. Today, I'll take care of everyone's bills."
Mando didn't point it out, but just smiled and said, "Drinking alone is no fun, let me treat this little girl to a few drinks!"
Nianyao smiled and said, "Then I'll gladly accept your offer."
When Nianyao left the private room, she hooked the door shut behind her, leaving Manduo and the soldiers inside. Manduo swung his broadsword and cleaved the door in two. When he came out, Nianyao was already gone.
Horses neighed in the backyard. When Manduo rushed over, he only saw Nianyao riding away, leaving only her back view. She was heading in the opposite direction from Baishan.